Method of and apparatus for treating hydrocarbons



apt. I1, 1934. E. MUTTER 73394 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATINGHYDROGARBONS Filed II/lay 29, 1950 d/WMZ" Patented Sept. 11, 1934 I IPATENT. OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREAT- ING HYDROCARBONS ErikMutter, New Brighton, N. Y., assignor to Standard Oil DevelopmentCompany, a cum-- I ration of Delaware Application May 29, 1930, SerialNo. 456,931

2 Claims. (Cl. 196-74) This invention relates to the "treatment ofhydrocarbons with gaseous reagents to obtain chemically modifiedproducts. The invention will be fully understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accom panying drawing in whichlatter the figure is a sectional view diagrammatic in character of aform of apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention.

Referring tothe drawing reference numeral 1 designates a heatingstructure which is divided by walls 2 into a plurality of chambers 3.4and 5. Hot gases from a furnace are introduced into these chambersthrough lin 6 and openings 7.

The hot gases are discharged from the chambers through openings 8 into adischarge stack 9.

Containers 12,13 and 14 are associated with the chambers 3, 4 and 5 andproject downwardly thereinto. Cylindrical shells or tubes 15, 16 and o17 project downwardly from the containers 12, 13

and 14. These tubes are relatively long and of relatively smallcross-sectional area. If desired, a plurality of thetubes can beconnected to each container. A valved feed line 19 for hydrocarbonsopens into the lower portion of tube 15. A discharge line 20, having avalve 21, communicates with the container 12 below the normal levelof'liquid therein and connects with the lower portion of the tubev 16. Asimilar discharge line 22 having a valve 23, connects container 13 withtube 1'1. A discharge line 25 leads from the lower portion of container14 and is provided with a valve 26.

Gaseous reagent is adapted to be injected into the lower portion oftubes 15, 16 and 17 from a line 2'7 through branch lines 28, 29 and 30.Valves 31, 32 and 33 are provided in these branch lines respectively.The gaseous reagent can be cold air, heated air, super-heated steam orother reaction gas. The reagent is preferably injected under greaterthan atmospheric pressure.

The liquid level in the containers 12, 13 and 14 is controlled by meansof floats 35, 36 and 3'7 respectively. Float 35 is operatively connectedto actuate valves 21 and 32 by means of a line 38. Raising of the liquidlevel in container 12 causes the float 35 to open valves 21 and 32.Float 36 of container 13 similarly actuates valves 23 and 33. Float 37is operatively connected to a pump, not shown. through line 40 whereby.the pump is actuated when the liquid level in container 14 rises above apredetermined position. The pump is connected with the discharge line25.

Vapors accumulating in the vapor space of container 12,13 and 14 arewithdrawn through a line 41 to a jet condenser 42; Cooling liquid suchas water is introduced into the jet condenser through a line 43. The jetcondenser communicates with a separator 44 containing baffles 45. Thecondensate and cooling liquid separate into layers in the separator andthe condensate is withdrawn through a line 46. Exhaust steam 'or thelike can be introduced into the vapor space of containers 12,l.3 and 14,through a valved line 47.

Treated hydrocarbons can be withdrawn after treatment in container 12and tube 15 by means of a valved line 48. Similarly the hydrocarbonswhich have been treated additionally in container 13 and tube 16 can bewithdrawn through a valved line 49.

By the construction described residual hydrocarbons are lifted by meansof a current of gaseousreagents so as to effect circulation of thehydrocarbons through the system. At the same time intimate contact iseflfected between the gaseous reagent and the hydrocarbons to facilitatethe reaction there between. As a result oxidized asphalts are producedcontinuously, the consumption of gaseous reagent is reduced to a.minimumand at the same time no extra pumping means are required for-effectingcirculation of the hydrocarbons through the system. By controlling thelevel of hydrocarbons in the containers 12, 13 and 14 it is possible tomaintain a uniform quality of the asphaltic product discharged from thecontainers. It will be understood that the process of liftinghydrocarbons into a container by means of a gaseous reagent can berepeated as often as necessary in order to obtain the desired quality ofproduct. It will be understood that the hydrocarbon containing systemcan be operated under atmospheric pressure, less than atmosphericpressure, or under greater than atmospheric pressure.

- Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims inwhich it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention asbroadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating liquid hydrocarbons comprising a. heatingstructure divided into a. plurality of chambers by a series of walls, avertically disposed still partially projecting downwardly in eachchamber, a feed conduit and a discharge conduit leading downwardly fromeach still through the heating chambers to a point outside of theheating chambers, connect on between the discharge conduit 01' a still2. Process of continuously treating liquid hy-.

drocarbons for the production of oxidized asphalts therefrom, oxidizedto various degrees by treatment with a gaseous agent containing freeoxygen, which comprises passing a liquid hydrocarbon while applying heatthereto upwardly through a series of narrow elongated and substantiallyvertical treating zones and separating zones on their upper ends,discharging the hydrocarbons from each separating zone to the lowerportion of the next narrow elongated treating zone, injecting thegaseous reagent containing free oxygen into the lower part of eachnarrow elongated treating zone, withdrawing gases and vapors from theupper portions of the separating zones and withdrawing at will oxidizedasphalt from any of the separating zones.

ERIK MUTIER.

